Have you noticed how most everything seems to have an expiration date these days? Some are certainly for good reason. Meat. Dairy. Bread. I don’t want to eat or drink those things when they have gone bad. Even so, I am not sure I need a date stamp to help me out. Nature has a way of letting know when meat is rotten, milk is sour or bread is moldy. I doubt if my grandmother ever felt a need for expiration dates on her food items.
Well, times have changed, and maybe our senses are not as good as generations prior. Maybe. If I do check the expiration date on the carton of milk, I still smell it before I decide whether to pour it on my cereal or down the drain. My olfactory seems to be working just fine. And if I am in doubt, I throw it out.
But, alas, the marketers of the world have discovered our apparent fears of consuming anything that might be considered “old.” We now have expiration dates for beer and soda and even bottled water. Yes, bottled water can expire.
I had this discussion with some co-workers the other day. I searched up and down a bottle of water for this so-called expiration date, and I proudly showed the bottle and pointed out that it wasn’t there. An observant co-worker then succinctly showed me the fine print that my expiring eyes couldn’t see. I chugged down that bottle of water out of pure vengeance.
OK, so maybe you agree with the need for expiration dates on bottled or canned drinks, but prepare yourself for these non-food items that we are to believe can also expire and should be replaced:
Toothbrush? Just in case you can’t tell when the bristles fall out in your mouth, the American Dental Association suggests you replace this every three to four months.
Bath towels? Home health experts say you should replace your towels at least once every two years or when they lose their fluffiness, start to smell or stop absorbing.
Pillows or mattress? Experts recommend replacing your pillows every two years or when they begin to lose shape. And plan to buy a new mattress in six to eight years, or if you notice it is sagging, or if it begins to squeak or make other noises. If you suffer from allergies, you may want to do this even sooner.
Sunscreen? Three years. Sunscreens are required by the FDA to remain at their original strengths for at least that long. Many sunscreens now have an expiration date on the bottle.
Slippers? Six months to a year, depending on how much you wear them. They apparently may be a breeding ground for bacteria, especially if you wear them outside at all and don’t wash them.
So, my motto of “If in doubt, throw it out” still seems to apply. Meanwhile, let me know of other products with expiration dates that I failed to mention.
Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707